19th Century Royal Navy
Miscellaneous Notes
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- 1623, Slop clothing instituted.
- 1666, Gratuities for wounds granted to Captains
- 1670, Captain's Clerks instituted.
- 1673, Half pay first granted to a limited number of Captains.
- 1675, Half pay extended to a limited number of masters.
- 1683 Victualling Commissioners appointed and victualling by contract abolished.
- 1694, Greenwich Hospital established.
- 1702, Proclamation establishing prize money shares.
- 1748, Uniform for officers introduced.
- 1757, establishment of regular methods of payment of their wages enabling seamen to remit or allot monies to support of their wives.
- 1777, Bill to abolish Press defeated.
- 1782, Steele's Navy List first published.
- 1793, Rank of Commander introduced.
- 1795, New Act for raising seamen establishes a quota to come from each county.
- 1796, Pay and half pay of lieutenants raised.
- 1797, Mutinies at Spithead and Nore. Pay to be improved. Men to receive full rations instead of only seven-eighths and "Savings" to be officially recognised.
- It is of importance to Commerce that our Naval Officers should be informed, it is not requisite, on retaking a vessel, to bring or send her into port, in order to be entitled to salvage, or to ascertain its amount. It has been recently established, in the Case of Sir E. Pellew, that notes from the papers of the recapture, with the affidavit of three of the crew (which every captain of a man of war is competent to take), is sufficient evidence; and that to detain a ship to the possible loss of her voyage, instead of permitting her to pursue it immediately, is as unnecessary as injurious. Naval Chronicle p. 31 Vol. 1, 1799.
- 1802, St. Vincent's visitation of the dockyards, with a view to making further attempts to reduce corruption.
- 1805, Surgeons granted commissioned rank.
- 1806, Pay of officers and men increased.
- 1808, Masters granted commissioned rank.
- 1814, Navy List first published.
- 1814, Pursers granted half pay and to rank with lieutenants.
- 1817, Alterations in pay to be introduced 1 Jan 1817.
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- A new regulation has taken place in the pay of the crews of Revenue Cruisers - men who are not prime seamen will have £1 1s. per month, the others £2 as formerly. Naval Chronicle Jan-Feb 1817.
- Additional pension scheme introduced for Widows and orphans of Medical Officers of the Navy.
A measure has just been sanctioned by the Board of Admiralty, for the benefit of the Families of this meritorious class of Officers, which redounds so much to the credit of the corps itself with which it originated, and to the praise of Government, by whom it was very zealously encouraged, that we are desirous of making it generally known.
In common with the Widows of other Naval Officers, the Widows of Surgeons have hitherto had pensions of £40 per annum from Government. But the subordinate and not less useful class of Assistant Surgeons have had no such provision. It was therefore determined, by means of a small contribution from each member of the corps (compulsatory on those hereafter entering the service, but optional to the present members) to establish a Supplemental Fund, in order to grant additional pensions of £40 a year to the Widows and certain other benefits to the Orphans, of such of the Medical Officers of the Navy, of every description, as should desire to avail themselves of the privilege of this Institution; such additional pension not to be reckoned as private income, or as tending to deprive the Widow of the King's pension. Consistently with the present regulations, therefore, a Medical Officer's Widow may in future hold the two pensions of £40 each, besides £80 of private income. This Fund has now been established by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, a copy of whose Order in Council we subjoin. It is not the least encouraging part of the plan, that the management of the Fund is vested in the First Lord and Secretary of the Admiralty for the time being, with a Court of Directors, composed of the principal Medical Officers. Naval Chronicle pp. 415-416 Vol. 38, 1817
- Dec 1822, Falmouth Packets.- We are at length able to state. that as far as the decision of his Majesty's Ministers may be so considered, the question so long agitated respecting the direction of the Falmouth Packets, is at length finally settled. The following communication has been received at Falmouth from the highest official authority:-" The Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury have determined on the expediency of transferring the superintendence of the Falmouth Post Office packets to the Board of Admiralty," but " that no alteration will be made in regard to the station from which those packets now sail; that the ordinary refitting of the packets of Falmouth will continue as heretofore ; and that the Navy Board will adopt all the present contractor, and will continue the persons now employed. It is understood that the first building of the packets has not heretofore been wholly confined to Falmouth, and in future it will probably take place (at least in the time of peace) in the King's Dock Yards. "West Briton"
- 1824, Grog allowance reduced and men granted 2s. per month "packet money" in lieu. Rations much altered.
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- Sep 1824 At Portsmouth it is reported, that the British naval uniform is about to undergo a change - to be blue coat, faced red, red waistcoat and breeches, the latter of silk plush : it is suggested in naval circles where this alteration is by no means popular, that yellow stockings and red night-caps would make an appropriate finish to this whimsical uniform. County Chronicle. [Which as far as I know came to nought.]
- 1825, monthly advance of pay introduced for men - no further details known.
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- Feb 1829 Reductions in the Navy and Victualling Boards. It is reported that the Navy Board is to be reduced from :
1 Comptroller, 2 Surveyors and 6 Commissioners to 1 Comptroller, 1 Surveyors and 4 Commissioners, and
The Victualling Board will also be reduced from 1 Chairman, 1 Deputy Chairman, and 5 Commissioners, although details have yet to be finalised, but it may disappear altogether.
March 1829 it would appear that the reductions mentioned above have been abandoned for the present.
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- Oct 1829 newly invented paddles wheels were being trialled on board the Confiance.
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- Oct 1829, as a trial, the Briton has been fitted with a Voice Pipe, that runs from the quarter-deck to the maintop, for use in heavy weather, the idea of Mr Parsons of Portsmouth Dockyard.
- 1830, Award of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal introduced for ratings.
- 1830, Widows of the following warrant officers : Gunners, Carpenters and Boatswains, lose their entitlement to Widows Pensions.
- 1830, the First Gunnery Training ship, HMS EXCELLENT, fitted out at Portsmouth.
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- Nov 1830, Warrant Punishment : Admiralty modified and restricted the award of corporal punishment, and introduced the use of warrants for every case. Whilst the power to inflict punishment remained with the commanding officer the number of lashes was limited to 48. In addition at least 12 hours should elapse, except in cases of mutiny, between the signing of the warrant and infliction of the punishment. In flagships the signature of the flag officer had to be obtained. Warrants were to be transmitted quarterly to the Admiralty in lieu of the present Reports of Punishment.
- 1831 Beer ration abolished.
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- Feb 1831 It is reported that the Coast Blockade is to be disbanded over the next few months, and that the work of this organisation will be taken over by the Coast Guard.
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- 27th June, 1831, Joseph Hume, an MP with radical views, suggested that the difficulty experienced in manning the fleet was "that sailors would go only with certain captains, and this must be the case while these officers retained the power of inflicting arbitrary punishments without holding a court-martial. Sailors in ships of war ought to be placed on as good a footing as those in the merchant service. In some ships lash was not given from year's end to year's end, while in others a week never elapsed without it."
- 1832, Graham's reforms. Navy Board, Victualling Board and Sick and Hurt Commissioners abolished.
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- Circa Apr 1833 The punishment for smuggling that compelled offenders to serve 5 years in the Navy is abolished ; fine and imprisonment will in future be the only penalty.
- Circa Apr 1833 It is now finally determined that the present tower over the rigging loft, in the [Portsmouth] Dock-yard, is to be the future semaphore, instead of the erection at Lump's Fort, now used for that purpose. The only alteration which will be requisite consists of a new shaft, with wings to work, and which have been ordered to be constructed and fixed forthwith.-Ports. Her.
- Circa Apr 1833 All students discharged from the Naval College after July 1833, are, by order in council, to serve five years on board sea-going ships, before they can be examined for Lieutenants, without reference to the time allowed them for their studies at the College, wherein they are required to remain two years.-Hampshire Telegraph.
- Circa Apr 1833 The Admiralty, by a recent regulation, are determined to mate the Island of Ascension a valuable source of revenue to the mother country. The Governor there has been ordered to charge all applicants thirty shillings each for turtle, and remit home an account of the amount.-Hants. Tel.
- Jul 1833, All students discharged from the Naval College after July 1833, are, by Order in Council, to serve five years on board sea-going ships before they can be examined for Lieutenants, without reference to the time allowed them for their studies at the College, wherein they are required to remain two years. Plym. Her.
- 1833 By a recent Admiralty order, issued at the suggestion of the Board of Customs, all Lieutenants, who have served three years as chief officers in the coast guard service, and who are unequal to the duties, by reason of age, ill health, want of energy, or other causes, are subject to be displaced. By accounts from Plymouth, we find that the first consequence of this order is, that fourteen Lieutenants have received orders that their services will not be required at the expiration of three months. Ports. Her.
- 1833 The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have directed that the extra Clerk allowed to be borne in lieu of a seaman in all rated ships, may be selected from among such as may have passed an examination for Purser, without limitation as to the time of passing, and not as heretofore only from those passed prior to 1829.
- 1833 Mates and Midshipmen are in future to be considered qualified to be entered as Admiralty Mates or Midshipmen, after having passed for seamanship abroad, or both examinations, if at home, one complete year, and not as heretofore, only those passed prior to 1830.
- 1833 By a recent Admiralty order, Pursers of ships in commission are to negotiate their bills for the payment of monthly allowance through merchants or bankers, instead of presenting them to the resident pay clerks at the different ports.
- 1833 The Lords of the Admiralty have ordered a certain proportion of blue cloth and blue Flushing, to be supplied to the Navy, in lieu of made up jackets and trousers ; an order which cannot fail to give satisfaction throughout the fleet. Seamen, &c. will thereby be enabled to have those articles made up on board, fitted to each respectively, instead of wearing the unseemly clothing hitherto issued.-Devon Tel.
- Appeared in the Nautical Magazine for Sep. 1833
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have directed that the extra Clerk allowed to be borne in lieu of a seaman in all rated ships, may be selected from among such as may have passed an examination for Purser, without limitation as to the time of passing, and not as heretofore only from those passed prior to 1829.
- Appeared in the Nautical Magazine for Sep. 1833
Mates and Midshipmen are in future to be considered qualified to be entered as Admiralty Mates or Midshipmen, after having passed for seamanship abroad, or both examinations, if at home, one complete year, and not as heretofore, only those passed prior to 1830.
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- Dec 1833 an order received increases the portion of monthly pay to the seamen ; at present it is 4s. a-month ; in future the portion is to be regulated by the seaman's rating on the ships books, by the quantity of slops he may have taken up, and by the amount of allotment he makes to his family. A new scale of the rate at which foreign specie shall be issued to the seamen in the different quarters of the world is also attached to this order. -Hampshire Telegraph.
[I suspect that this is a reflection on the amount of money seamen are allowed to be paid in advance and at other stages through a ship's commission.]
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- Dec 1833 Devonport A public meeting of unemployed seamen who have served in His Majesty's navy was held at the Clarence Inn, for the purpose of framing an address to the House of Commons, petitioning for some relief. The meeting was conducted in a very orderly manner, and an address was resolved on. It details their distress arising from want of employment, and points out no other remedy but early employment for subsistence, and testifying their readiness to proceed to any part of the World in His Majesty's service.
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- Oct 1834. The Lords of the Admiralty have issued a Circular limiting the entry of young gentlemen as "First Class Volunteers," to those who have already served in the Navy.
Circa 1834. Naval Bills. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have given notice, that all bills drawn upon the Accountant-General of the Navy, by officers of his Majesty's Navy, for stores purchased, necessary money, savings of provisions, &c., are wholly exempt from stamp duty by the 8th and 29th sections of the act of the 2d Wm. IV. cap. 40.
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- Oct 1834. The Lords of the Admiralty have issued a Circular directing that 2nd rate ships and below are to enter double the number of first class boy seamen, in lieu of adult seamen.
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- Oct 1834. The Lords of the Admiralty have issued a Circular which states that Master's Assistants may only be borne as a part of the ship's complement, and are to replace an Able Seaman.
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- Apr 1835 Chaplains in the Royal Navy - Work as Schoolmasters. It is intended that Chaplains in future admitted into the Navy shall qualify themselves to teach the young gentlemen in their respective ships such a course of mathematics as is requisite to further their knowledge of navigation.
Chaplains are at present allowed to act as schoolmasters, but they generally avoid it ; the intention is therefore to impose on them this useful and necessary duty.
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- 1835 Ship Building for the Royal Navy. We have much satisfaction in announcing to the nation that the present disgraceful state of English naval architecture is likely to become the subject of a formal, and we trust, serious and candid inquiry in the next session of Parliament. Mr. G. F. Young has placed upon the order-book of the House of Commons the following notice of motion :-
" That a select committee be appointed to inquire into the system at present adopted in the construction of ships for His Majesty's navy ; to report how far that system is calculated to insure, for the public service, the advantages of scientific and practical knowledge of naval architecture, and of improvements in naval construction ; and to suggest the best means for submitting to the test of impartial examination and fair competition the relative, qualities of ships constructed on the plans of different naval architects."
Such an investigation is most imperiously demanded, and it will be as important as it will be beneficial to the nation, if properly conducted and carried on without any reference to the interests of individuals in office, but, on the contrary, with an entire disregard to every thing but the attainment of the truth.
The question to be tried, as proposed by Mr. Young, is, whether professional science is or is not to be preferred as forming part of the education of a naval constructor; and bearing, as it does, upon the shipbuilding, both military and mercantile, of this great maritime nation, it can only be justly esteemed as a most vital one, involving the national character, the national safety, and vast expenditure of the national treasure.
Let it, then be tried upon its own merits. Let not official power and chicanery be allowed to step in to defeat the object of this inquiry, but let it be announced to the world that the British Parliament is not prepared to sanction such a piece of Vandalism as the suppression of science in our dockyards, or to deny it as fair a trial as the "system at present adopted in the construction of the ships of His Majesty's navy." Let but this inquiry be conducted without evasion, and it will of necessity lead to the establishment of "some fundamental principles in naval architecture, and shortly to perpetuate a correct system of construction."
Let the question be treated with the candour and temper in which we approach a geometrical proposition, and it must of necessity lead to an exposure of the infinite mischief which has resulted and will yet result from allowing English naval architecture to be the sport of "intuitive" chimeras, and of the urgent want of a scientific cultivation of naval design. It never can be allowed that the country of Newton and other illustrious philosophers should see its ships delivered over to the hands of those who treat shipbuilding, and talk of it, as a species of hocus pocus, and who, in fact, instead of regarding a ship as a machine, look upon it rather as a sentient being, having its likes and dislikes and thereby deliver themselves over to the most egregious delusions and dreamy absurdities.
United Services Gazette.
[As an aside it is interesting to note that those senior officers, eg the Flag Officer of the West Indies and North America Station, who criticised apparent design deficiencies in HM ships, and in particular in HMS VERNON and the way she behaved in certain sea conditions, who made suggestions that might improve her performance, were not treated as serious criticisms, but as frivolous and political comments. What a way to run a Navy. It is said that the Vernon was probably the best sailing ship in the Service in a fairly calm sea state, but that once the sea state deteriorated so did her performance and she became a dog and one of the worst ships in the Service to sail, a problem that was later rectified, but not before a great deal of political venom and hot air had been expended.]
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- 1835 Vessels fitted out for slaving can now be detained, in addition to those actually carrying slaves. Whilst this may be all very well it is noted that most of the vessels detained will be sold by the Admiralty and bought by those with vested interests in the slave industry, the profits being so great that this merely becomes an additional incidental expense.
1837 Further to the above - it was agreed that condemned vessels from some nations could be broken up.
He Majesty's Commissioners to Viscount Palmerston.-(Received December 16.)
Sierra Leone, 2d October, 1837.
My Lord,
We beg leave to make reference to that portion of our Despatch to your Lordship marked Spain, of the 20th July, 1836, respecting the expense of cutting up slave-vessels condemned in the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice established here, and to state that finding from the facilities which now exist that the rate of expense at which such vessels had hitherto been cut up could be considerably reduced witbout prejudice to the manner in which this service is executed, we have directed that in future the following scale of remuneration be adopted in lieu of that described in the Despatch above alluded to.
For the first 60 tons an allowance of 3s. per ton.
For the further tonnage of a condemned vessel at the rate of 1s. 6d. per ton.
We have, &c.
(Signed) Walter W. Lewis, R. Doherty.
The Right Hon. Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B.
Further to the above it is noted that the Portuguese slave brig Paquete de Cabo Verde, captured by the Scout on 11 Jan 1837 and sold by auction on 11 Mar., having been condemned a few days previously, was sold to people who it was known were involved in the slave trade, namely a Mr. John Dean Lake, who then passed the vessel on to a Miguel Bertinote, with whom Lake had had previous dealings, and both of whom had connections with the slave trade. It would therefore appear that the slave trade was sufficiently lucrative to enable those involved not to worry about the cost of transporting slaves across the Atlantic ?
- 1835, First Chief Engineer and Inspector of Machinery appointed.
- 1836, Seaman Schoolmasters established.
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- Promotion of Clerks to the rank of Purser. From 1829 to 1835, inclusive, the Admiralty have promoted 10 suitable clerks to the rank of Purser per annum. However only six are to be promoted this year, and from next year have stated that in future, for every three vacancies there will only be one promotion. [It would therefore appear that there is a surplus of Pursers in the Navy, and the Admiralty are using this as a device to reduce the number.]
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- May 1836 Master's Assistants - complements for various classes of ship. The Admiralty have directed that in future HM ships are to be complemented for Master's Assistants as follows :
Line of battle-ships . . . 3
Other rated ships . . . 2
Skoops . . . 1
And that in default of Captains applying for same, the Admiralty will appoint that number to each ship in commission, from amongst the most deserving.
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- June 1836. Trials with India Rubber. Mr. Brockedon's lecture last night at the Society of Arts afforded us some singular facts of the qualities of caoutchoue or India-rubber as applied under Mr. Siever's s patent, to the purposes of cables, gun breachings, whale-fishing lines and rigger bands for driving machinery. A very strong illustration was given by the lecturer in a breeching used on board His Majesty's ship Excellent, at Portsmouth, under the direction of the Board of Admiralty; he stated it had been used on board in their daily exercises for these last two years, and its durability seemed not to have been impaired. The lecturer tried an experiment to show the advantages of an elastic rope in resisting a jerk by attaching a weight to a cord, and letting it fall until it broke : he then tied a piece of the same cord to a piece of the elastic rope, and by letting the weight fall four times the same height, it resisted the jerk, and remained unbroken ; this proved that it resisted at least 30 times the weight that broke it in the first instance.
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The Naval Services - Recruiting etc
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The number of men etc. that entered the navy |
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from 1 July, 1834, to 30 June 1835 |
from 1 July, 1835, to 30 June 1836 |
|
men who had previously served in King’s ship |
1,673 |
1,165 |
|
boys who had previously served in King’s ship |
1,163 |
934 |
|
men who entered the navy for the first time |
5,638 |
3,935 |
|
boys who entered the navy for the first time |
560 |
384 |
| |
9,034 |
6,418 |
|
Discharges from the Royal Navy, excluding those paid-off. |
| |
1 July, 1834, to 30 June 1835 |
1 July, 1835, to 30 June 1836 |
| |
Men |
Boys |
Men |
Boys |
|
Died in hospital, |
65 |
6 |
63 |
11 |
|
Died on board ship |
233 |
9 |
166 |
20 |
|
Discharged with disgrace |
118 |
- |
63 |
- |
|
Pensioned as invalids |
129 |
7 |
241 |
4 |
|
Pensioned for long service |
213 |
- |
260 |
- |
| |
758 |
22 |
793 |
35 |
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- 1837, Engineering Branch established by Order-in-Council.
- 1837, Engineers placed in warrant rank with uniform, pay, regulations and training arrangements.
- 1837, Introduction of Good Service Pension for senior officers.
- 1837, RN College, Portsmouth, closed.
- Feb 1837 The prectice, in HM ships, of sending "young gentlemen," ie midshipmen, to the masthead as a punishment, is to be discontinued forthwith, per the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
However, it is apparent that some Commanding Officers didn't agree with Their Lordships, and continued the punishment, or invented their own remedy.
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- An Admiralty circular to encourage the entry of merchant seamen and mates as master's assistants.
Admiralty, 16 Mar 1838.
With reference to the circular letter of the 2nd inst. [not at present available] relative to the admission of an additional number of masters' assistants into the Royal Navy, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to acquaint you that instead of the periods of time thereby required as a qualification of servitude, their Lordships are pleased to direct, that the candidate shall have been at sea, either in HM Navy 3 complete years, in the Merchant service 5 years, (two of which in his apprenticeship, and three as mate or inferior mate), or for combined periods of two years in the RN, and two in the Merchant service, or one year in the RN, and two in the Merchant service, or one in the RN, and three in the Merchant service; and all candidates, who shall be found qualified agreeably to the provisions of the before-mentioned circular, will be considered eligible to be appointed by their Lordships as acting masters assistants. (Signed John Barrow.)
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- Nov 1838. Royal Navy.-On Thursday the walls of the city [possibly Glasgow ?]and its environs were covered with placards, advertising for able-bodied seamen, petty officers, and stout boys, to join her Majesty's naval service; period of servitude five years. Among others, the following inducements were held out to enter the service :
Wages for able-bodied men 34s. per month, to continue without deduction in sickness or health, during leave of absence, shipwreck, or capture ;
allotment of wages paid to wife or family punctually ;
good conduct leading to petty officers ;
rations, with pay, exceeding 301. per annum ;
a liberal allowance of provisions, grog, cocoa, tea &c.;
bounty paid to men in actual service ;
admission to Greenwich Hospital for wounds or service,
letters free of postage ;
liberty to exercise trade or calling in every corporate town,
their children eligible to Greenwich Hospital School,
a month's pay in advance for pocket money.
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- April, 1839. The Gazelle, engaged in the slave trade, until captured by the gun-brig Water Witch in 1837, was the last slaver to be sold. All slave ships, once condemned, are now to broken up in accordance with new government regulations.
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- Jun 1839 Portsmouth An Admiralty circular order has been issued to Her Majesty’s ships, directing that soldiers, invalids, and others, passengers on board, and who are usually victualled at two thirds of the allowance granted to seamen, shall if admitted into the “ship's sick mess," be victualled at full allowance, so as not to infringe upon the comforts of the other people.
- 1840, Leading stoker introduced. [However, it should be noted that he was the equivalent of a Petty Officer Stoker, had there been such a rate - eventually introduced circa 1907.]
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- By a Memorandum dated 11 Oct 1841, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have decided, that time served as a Lieutenant in a separate command shall reckon as time served as First lieutenant of a rated ship.
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- Dec 1841. Their Lordships direct, that in all cases of a Midshipman having completed the required time to entitle him to pass for a Lieutenancy, when the ship to which he belongs shall happen to be detached, so as to prevent his obtaining at the moment all examination according to the established regulations, the Captain or Commander of the said ship in which such Midshipman may be serving, with the senior lieutenant or second officer, and the Master or second master (according to the class of ship and the rank of officer on board of her), assisted by the Naval instructor, if there may be one on board, may proceed to examine such Midshipman as to his qualifications to perform the duties of a Lieutenant, but if they find him to be in their opinions duly qualified, they are to give him a certificate to that effect, dated on the day of such examination, and the Captain may forthwith give him an acting order as Mate, and if on the first opportunity that shall afterwards offer for his being re-examined according to the established regulations, he passed successfully, his rank of Mate shall be enrolled according to the date of his first provisional certificate above ordered.
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- Dec 1841. Yheir Lordships' direct that the questions and instructions for the exercise and service of great guns on board her Majesty's ships shall form part of the examination of Midshipmen for the rank of Mate or Lieutenant, and that a certificate shall be given to such only as may answer and understand the several points to which these questions refer ; that such portions of the examination as can be carried on, on board H.M.S. Excellent shall be made there, and that no candidate for examination shall be permitted to present himself at the College unless he produce a certificate, from the Captain of the Excellent, of his being qualified in gunnery, in addition to the usual certificate of his being qualified in seamanship.
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- Feb 1842 masts for vessels being commissioned are to be fitted with Harris's lightning conductors before they are hooped.
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- Feb 1842 the pinnace of the Geyser is to be fitted with a screw, powered by a 5 or 6 horse power engine produced by the Disc Company.
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- Feb 1842 24 officers on half-pay are to be borne on the books of the Excellent, to enable them to avail themselves of the course of studies pursued at the Naval College, as well as to make themselves acquainted with the gunnery practice carried on in that ship.
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- Feb 1842 10 gun brigs are to be commanded by a Commander in future instead of a Lieutenant.
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- Apr 1842 the frigate Penelope, 46, launched in 1829, has been selected to be fitted with a steam engine on a plan by Mr. Edge, assistant survey of the RN : the conversion will involve cutting her in half amidships in order that she can be extended by 62 feet, to provide room for two steam engines producing 650 h.p., with bunkerage for 600 tons of coal. This would appear to be the first conversion of several that were to be carried out by the Royal Navy in the years to come. The conversion commenced in June 1842.
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- June 1842, on ships being paid off the workng petty officers can now be received on board the flag-ships as disposable petty officers, with the same ratings and pay as they had in the ship paid off, and which they will continue to hold when placed in seagoing ships. If they decline remaining on board the flag-ship, they will be granted leave of absence and placed in seagoing ships, with the same ratings, when the term of their leave expires.
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- Feb 1843, officers from the Admiralty visited Portsmouth Dockyard with a view to a basin being built in the yard for the maintenance of steam vessels. At the present time HM Dockyard at Woolwich was the only port with facilities for the repair and maintenance of steam vessels, and thus it was necessary to send steam vessels round to Woolwich for maintenance etc.
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- Feb 1843 Paddle ships are to be fitted with paddle-box boats, as designed by Captain Smith, which will be stored above the paddles.
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- Mar 1843 Mr. Brewer's patent block, following trials, and reportedly more robust than those in current use, is to replace those now in use.
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- Apr 1843, in the light of the improved armaments that are now coming into use the Admiralty have agreed the re-positioning of magazine in ships of the line, as proposed by Mr. Edye when refitting the Powerful, with a view to siting them some 6 feet below the water-line and in such a manner that they will be further protected from in-coming shot by placing iron [water?] tanks outboard of the magazine.
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- Apr 1843, rumours are afoot that the Royal Yachts are to be based at Portsmouth, in preference to the Medway. 4 Nov 1843 the Victoria and Albert arrived from Sheerness to be laid up for the Winter months.
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- May 1843, the impregnation of timber, sails and ropework, which has been carried out on a trial basis at Portsmouth for some time, with a view to preserving the wood and preventing dry-rot in timber, and mildew in sails and rope. Introduced on a trial basis a year or so ago on the sails of the Niger expedition, and more recently on board the Davastation, it is stated, at the present time, to be working with regards to the sails, and further trials will continue.
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- Jun 1843 it is understood that for many years that the instructions given to the helsman on board a paddle steam vessel were passed from the bridge, between the two paddle-boxes, by movements or waves of the hand by the Commander, the Officer of the Warch or Pilot. This made piloting the vessel at night most difficult, voice or messenger appearing to be the only medium available ? A new device has now been introduced which transmits a light signal to the helmsman, which can also be seen by oncomng vessels.
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- Jul 1843 Uniform changes. White facings are to replace scarlet facints. Lieutenants : two epaulettes replace the epaulette and strap.
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- Nov 1843, a Mr. Jeffery, patentee of a marine glue, has invented a mineral-based substance to be painted on the bottom of RN vessels, with a view to it replacing copper sheathing. The first trial will be carried out on board the frigate SHANNON, a receiving ship at Sheerness.
- Q.R. & A.I. of 1844 made no mention of any punishment other than corporal punishment.
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- Jan 1844 Pursers in future to be known as Pursers and Paymasters. Volunteers of the First Class are to be known as Naval Cadets.
Masters of line-of-battle ships are to be paid £16. 6s. 8d. per mensum ; Masters of all other rates £14 ; and when responsible for a warrant officers stores they are to be paid accordingly.
Clerks are to be paid £4 6s. 4d. per mensum in 1st Rates, and £4 on all other Rates of vessel.
Pensions are to be restored to some Warrant Officers ; see below.
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- The Officers of her Majesty's Navy to be divided into two Branches.- Military Brunch and a Civil Branch, of the undermentioned denominations. and to rank as follows. The following is the more material detail:-
Military Branch.
| Flag Officers |
Second Masters |
| Commodores |
Midshipmen |
| Captains |
Masters' Assistants |
| Commanders |
Naval Cadets |
| Lieutenants |
Gunners |
| Master of the Fleet |
Boatswains |
| Masters |
Carpenters |
| Mates |
|
Civil Branch
Director-General of the Medical Department of the Navy,- to rank with but after Commodores.
Medical Inspector of Hospitals.- to rank with, but after Captains under three years seniority.
Secretaries to Flag Officers commanding in Chief Deputy Medical Inspector of Hospitals,- to rank with, but after Commanders, and with each other as here mentioned
Chaplains, Secretaries to junior Flag Officers and Commodores of the first Class, Surgeons, Paymasters and Pursers, Naval Instructors,- to rank with, but after Lieutenants and Masters, and with each other as here mentioned.
Assistant-Surgeons.- to rank with, but after Mates.
Clerks.- to rank with, but after Masters' Assistants.
Clerks' Assistants,- to rank with, but after Naval Cadets.
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- The Officers of the two Branches are to be appointed as follows:
By Commission.
Military
Flag Officers, Commodores, Captains, Commanders, Lieutenants, Master of the Fleet, Masters, Mates, Second Musters.
Civil
Medical Inspectors of Hospitals & Fleets, Deputy Medical Inspectors of Hospitals and Fleets<, Chaplains, Secretaries, Paymasters and Pursers, Surgeons, Assistant Surgeons.
By Order.
Naval Instructors, Clerks, Midshipmen, Naval Cadets, Masters' Assistants. Clerks' Assistants.
By Warrant
Gunners, Carpenters, Boatswains, Engineers.
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- An alteration has been made in the Pay of Captains commanding rated ships..-
| |
Per Ann. |
| |
£ |
s. |
d. |
| To the Captains of all line-of-battle ships, the pay formerly received by those of a second rate. |
698 |
2 |
0 |
| To Captains of the line of battle Guard Ships of the Ordinary, and other such Establishment, formerly third rate |
598 |
8 |
8 |
| Captains of regular flag Ships and Fourth Rates |
498 |
11 |
0 |
| All other Captains |
398 |
9 |
0 |
Thus taking away £100 per annum from the Captain of a first rate (of which class at present, only one is in employment), and, giving £100 per ann. to the Captain: of third rates, and £50 per ann. to the Captains of sixth rates.
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- Petty Officers paid the same in all rates, the lower rates brought up to the higher, with the exception of the Master at Arms, Seamen's Schoolmaster, Sailmaker, Ropemaker, Carpenter's Mate, Caulker, Blacksmith. who receive 3s. per month more in a first rate.- All other rates the same.
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- Pensions
To the Widows of Flag anal General, Officers, according to the case.
| |
Per Ann. £ |
| Captains, Colonels, Lieut. Colonels. |
|
| 1f killed in action |
200 |
| If drowned, or other violent death in an immediate act of duty |
120 |
| Commanders and Majors. |
|
| If killed in action |
120 |
| If drowned, or other violent death in an immediate act of duty |
90 |
| Medical Inspector of Hospitals and Fleets |
|
| If killed in action |
90 |
| 1f drowned, or other violent death in an immediate act of duty |
80 |
| Secretaries to Commanders-in-Chief and Deputy Medical Inspectors or Hospitals and Fleets. |
|
| If killed in action |
80 |
| If drowned, or other violent death in an immediate act of duty |
70 |
| Lieutenant and Masters of the Navy and Captains in the Royal Marines |
|
| If killed in action |
70 |
| If drowned, or other violent death in an immediate act of duty |
60 |
| Chaplains, Secretaries to Junior Flag Officers, Surgeons, Paymaster and Pursers and Naval Instructors |
|
| If killed in action |
60 |
| If drowned, or other violent death in an immediate act of duty |
50 |
| First Lieutenants in the Royal Marines |
|
| If killed in action |
60 |
| If drowned, or other violent death in an immediate act of duty |
50 |
| Second Lieutenants in the Royal Marines and Assistant Surgeons in the Navy |
|
| If killed in action |
50 |
| If drowned, or other violent death in an immediate act of duty |
40 |
| Gunners, Boatswains, Carpenters and Engineers |
|
| If killed in action |
35 |
| If drowned, or other violent death in an immediate act of duty |
30 |
Compassionate Allowances
To the children of :
| |
If killed inaction |
If not killed in action |
| Flag and General Officers |
£25 to 40 |
16 to 20 |
| Captains, Colonels, Lieut. Colonels |
18 to 25 |
14 to 16 |
| Commanders, Majors, Inspectors of Hospitals and Fleets |
16 to 20 |
12 to 14 |
| Secretaries to Commanders in Chief, Lieutenants of the Navy, Deputy Inspector of Hospitals and Fleets, Masters, Captains of Marines |
12 to 16 |
9 to 12 |
| Lieutenants of Marines. Chaplains (if on full pay at the time of their death.), Secretaries to junior Flag Officers and Commanders, Surgeons, Paymasters, Pursers, Naval Instructors, Assistant Surgeons |
8 to 14 |
5 to 10 |
Compassionate Allowance.
The aggregate amount of the Allowance to be granted to the Family of an Officer, including the Pension to the Widow, shall in no case exceed the following rates viz,
| |
If killed in action. |
If not killed in action. |
| Flag and General Officers |
£500 |
£300 |
| Captains, Colonels. Lieut. Colonels |
£350 |
The amount of the half-pay of the rank and standing of the officer at the time of his death, to be in these cases the maximum of the allowance to the family |
| Commanders Majors, Medical Inspectors of Hospitals and Fleets |
£250 |
| Secretaries to Commanders-in-Chief; Lieutenants in the Navy, Deputy Inspectors of Hospitals & Fleets, Masters, Captains of Marines |
£150 |
| Lieutenants of Marines, Chaplains, Secretaries to junior Flap, Officers and Commodores, Surgeons |
£100 |
| Paymasters and Pursers, Naval Instructors, Assistant Surgeons |
£90 |
Where an Officer is killed in action, not leaving a widow, but leaving a mother in distressed or dependent circumstances, she shall receive the pension given to the widow of the deceased rank. Sisters are not eligible to any allowance, unless under very special and extraordinary circumstances, to be judged of by the Lords of her Majesty's Treasury.
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- Feb 1844 The issue of tobacco to the ship's companies of HM ships in British ports is suspended, it is thought, due to the large quantities being smuggled ashore.
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- St. Vincent, Portsmouth Harbour, 26 Feb 1844.
General Memorandum No. 37.
The Captains and Commanders of Ships paying off, are hereby informed, in pursuance of instructions from the Lords Commissioner of the Admiralty, that seamen under their command, bearing good characters for steadiness, honesty, and sobriety, will be admitted as vacancies occur, to serve in her Majesty's Dock-yard, as hired Artificers and Labourers, if found fit on examination at the Dock-yards, on the clear understanding that they will be expected to go to sea when required.
The Captains and Commanders of ships paying off are therefore to send to me for transmission to the Admiralty a list of such men, from among those wishing to serve as they shall consider fit for such appointments stating the capacity in which they desire to be employed, and forwarding, at the same time, the necessary certificate as to character.
(Signed) C. Rowley, Admiral. To the respective Captains and Commanders of H.M.S. paying off at Portsmouth.
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- Mar 1844, The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have issued a Circular, directing that, from lst of April next, Officers of all ranks doing duty as Secretaries shall receive five shillings per diem out of their Half Pay, in addition to their present salaries. (As Secretaries to Admirals are quite irrespective of the Service, we question the right of the Admiralty to interfere in this manner with the Half-pay.)
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- Prior to being appointed to positions in the Royal dockyards, Masters are to be promoted to the rank of commanders, e.g. Master-Attendants.
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- The Royal Steam Navy. There has been a re-classification of steam vessels of the Royal Navy. Hitherto denominated as steam frigates or steam-vessels, some termed frigates, which have now no pretensions to the term, and all the other; known as steam-vessels, whether transports, packet-boats, or tugs. The steamers in commission are now classed as follows :-
Steam Yachts. Victoria and Albert, and Black Eagle.
Steam Frigates. Penelope, Cyclops.
Steam Sloops. Acheron, Alecto, Ardent, Cormorant, Devastation, Driver, Geyser Gorgon, Growler, Hecate, Hecla, Hermes, Medea, Polyphemus, Salamander, Spiteful, Stromboli, Thunderbolt, Vesuvius, Virago, Vixen, Volcano, and Styx (surveying).
The following have no other designation than steam vessels. Albert, Cherokee, Dwarf, Flamer, Locust, Experiment, Meteor, Mohawk, Montreal, Myrtle, Pluto, Soudan, Traveller, Wilberforce. Surveying.- Columbia, Comet, Fearless, Firefly, Lucifer, Shearwater, Tartarus.
Steam Packets.. Adder, Advice, Asp, Beaver, Charon, Cuckoo, Dasher. Dotterel, Dover, Jasper, Medina, Medusa, Merling, Otter, Pigmy, Pike, Princess Alice, Prospero, Redwing, Sprightly, Swallow, Urgent, Widgeon, Wildfire, Zephyr.
Steam vessel Transports. Alban, Dee, Rhadamanthus.
Steam vessel Tenders.- Gleaner, Lightning, Bee.
Steam tug Vessels.- African, Confiance, Echo, and Monkey.
Not in commission, built, building, or ordered to be built, are the following:-
Steam Frigates:- Firebrand, Vulture. Building. Centaur, Dragoon, Gladiator. Samson, Terrible, Watt, Vulcan. Ordered to be built.- Avenger, Conflict, Dauntless, Dispatch, Niger, Odin.
Steam Sloops.- Janus, Phoenix, Rattler. Building. Bulldog, Infernal, Inflexible, Scourge, Sphynx. Ordered to be built.- Trident.
Steam Vessels.- Ariel, Avon, Carron, Kite. Building. -Bloodhound, Harpy, Jackall, Lizard, Myrmidon, Porcupine, Spitfire, Torch.
Total.- There are 84 steam-vessels in commission in the Royal Navy of all classes-viz., 2 yachts, 2 frigates, 23 sloops, 21 steam vessels, 25 steam-packets, and 1 revenue steam vessel. Out of commission, 9; 2 frigates, 3 sloops and 4 steam vessels. Building, 20; 7 frigates, 5 sloops, and 8 vessels. Ordered to be built, 7 ; 6 frigates, and 1 sloop.
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- April 1844. New Naval Instructions. Under the head of steam vessels, the use of the sails is most strictly enjoined. The following is an extract from the Admiralty order, on this subject, to officers in command.
Article 7, Sec. 3, Chap. 6.
"He is, except for experiments, most strictly to avoid getting up, or keeping up the steam, in all cases where the use of sails can enable him to perform the service in which he is engaged without important delay. The slightest neglect of this part of his duty, a neglect which may perhaps cripple the resources of the ship under his command at the very time that her services as a steam vessel may be most urgently required, will be visited with the severe displeasure of the Admiralty."
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- April 1844. By the New Naval Regulations the money heretofore paid to the Naval Service for savings on their provisions, will be reduced, in consequence of the reduction in the price of provisions since the last scale was established. This will seriously affect the Purser's profits, so much so that it must be made up to him by an increase of full pay; he will lose at least one-fifth of his former balance bills. The boys of the men-of-war must also be considered, as their -savings materially aided their pay, which will now be insufficient to keep them clean and decent. The following prices will in future be paid:- Bread, 2d. instead of 2½d. ; spirits, 3s. instead of 4s. per gallon ; chocolate, 5d, instead of 10d. per lb. ; and, sugar 4d. instead of 6d. per lb. Savings are to be allowed on oatmeal, which was not the custom in the late regulations.
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- April 1844. Communion Services for the Navy-Ten services of communion plate are ordered to he sent to each dockyard, to be placed in charge of the storekeepers, who are to furnish each ship to which a chaplain is appointed with one service of plate. It is to be given in charge of the chaplain, who will be held responsible for it.
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- May 1844. Naval Uniform. The following general memo. has been issued this week:-
"St. Vincent, Spithead, 2nd May, 1844. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having acquainted me that, in consequence of information which has been conveyed to their Lordships they deem it right to call my attention to the 2nd article, section 13, chapter 5, of her Majesty's regulation ; and also to her Majesty's commands promulgated on the 30th June, 1838. specifying the uniform to be worn by her Majesty's naval officers, in which is the following direction:- 'The blue morning coat now in use is abolished.' My Lords consider, therefore, that after so calling the particular attention of the Admiral, at the port, to her Majesty's commands, it will only be necessary for my Lords further to explain, with a view to prevent the possibility of future misunderstanding on the subject, that the great coat her Majesty has permitted to be worn by her Majesty's naval officers, when necessary, is to be understood only according to the real intent and meaning of that expression; and such great coats are only to be worn over their proper and uniform coats. The same is hereby made known for the guidance of her Majesty's naval officers: (Signed) C. Rowley, Admiral. To the respective Captains, &c."
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- 6 Jun 1844. An Admiralty circular states that seamen belonging to guard ships, when employed in mooring or fitting ships, or on any other work in which an unusual wear and tear of clothes necessarily occurs are to be allowed 3d. per day extra pay.
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- Aug 1844. In order from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty has been issued to enter 100 on General Service men to serve as riggers in each of the Royal Dockyards. The new hands will have 15s. each per week, or 2s. 6d. per day worked, except four, who will act as petty ofcers or leaders, and will have a guinea eacb; they are to be eligible for service afloat at Short notice, thus creating a small reserve of qualified seamen : but this is reportedly service which will not count towards a pension, at least at this date. See also September.
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- Aug 1844. It was reported some weeks ago that Portsmouth Dockyard would be lit by gas. A contract has just been agreed with the Portsea Gas Company and pipes are now being laid : this will be most beneficial for all employed in the yard. [and hopefully fewer drunken matelots will be walking off the end of jetties when attempting to return to their ships.]
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- Early Sep 1844. Since the order arrived in August to enter men for general service, [presumably for 5 years, with a liability to be sent to any ship], only half the numbers required have come forward. It is said that the genuine "Jack" will not enter for general service as long as he can help it, preferring to choose his own craft and his own captain and this he will do, unless driven to the alternative by sheer necessity. At Sheerness many are reported to have made inquiries, but none have accepted : rumours suggest that some of the many men paid off last year have worked their passage to New York and are now serving in the US Navy. A part of the problem appears to be that the Royal Navy often attempts to recruit at the same time as the Merchant Service, and as a result, the pay being better, men will often prefer the latter service, in the short term. Commentators of the day suggest that if the RN were to recruit when men from the Baltic, Canada and other trades close down for the winter, recruitment would be less of a problem, and if some continuity of paying off and commissioning vessels could be addressed, the problems of recruiting suitable men might soon disappear. It is interesting to note that towards the middle of September some 6 so-called experimental brigs were commissioned and the first 2 or 3 were fully manned with little delay, but one doubts if a ship of the line could have been manned so speedily, unless her commanding officer was known and respected, which perhaps says something about certain less popular officers and their reputed methods of maintaining discipline ?
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- Sep 1844. It may be of interest to note that the men serving on board the VICTORY were paid 6 months pay [in arrears], on 2 Sep 1844. These men will have been serving on board a vessel based in a home port and not liable to go to sea.
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- Sep 1844. Following the recent publication in the daily newspapers of a number of extracts from letters from RN officers describing the bombardment of Tangier by a French Squadron, in less than complimentary terms, the Flag Officer in the Mediterranean has called everyone's attention to the Naval Regulations relevant to those who resort to this activity and the displeasure that will be visited upon them by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty should their identity be discovered.
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- Nov 1844, officers' cabins on the gun-deck of line-of-battle-ships to be less substantial. Until now they have been constructed of wood frames, with panels of canvass, secured to cants below and aloft : the new cabins will be made of canvass, nailed to the deck above, and secured below by a cordage to staples ; these will be less trouble to remove when clearing decks for action.
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- The following circular has recently been issued by the Admiralty :-
It having been represented to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that the word 'port' is frequently, though not universally, substituted on board Her Majesty's ships for the word 'larboard,' and as the want of a uniform Practice in this respect may lead to important and serious mistakes, and the distinction between 'starboard' and 'port' is so much more marked than that between 'starboard' and 'larboard,' it is their Lordships direction that the word 'larboard' shall no longer be used to signify left on board any of Her Majesty's ships or vessels. By command of their Lordships.
To all Commanders-in Chief. Captains, and commanding officers of Her Majesty's ships and vessels.
[Whether this was the first time this instruction was issued I wouldn't know for sure, but I have a feeling it might having been affirming something that was already in existence ?]
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- Jan 1845 - whilst it was denied by some there were reports that HMS Albion suffered a number of shortcomings - to highlight these deficiencies would appear to be have been politically incorrect and to have damned one's prospects of promotion etc :-
During the voyage of the Albion from Lisbon to Plymouth, was she enabled to open the lower deck ports for a single day ?
Did not the ship roll to that fearful degree, as to make the officer of the watch very apprehensive about her, and always anxious for the safety of the masts ?
Are not the wardroom and the captain's cabin provided with stanchions and conveniences tar catching hold of when the vessel goes to sea ?
Can the officer say that it would be safe to cast her guns adrift, especially the large ones, in a swell such as is usual to fight such guns ?
Could her guns in any swell be fought effectually, in a way to meet the fire of other ships ?
Has not the oakum fairly worked out of her seams, and are not the officers' cabins flooded very often, and the people kept wet and uncomfortable from the same cause ?
Can the people venture to put a basin of chocolate on the table without its rolling off ?
-
- Mar 1845 it is reported in Congress that only 1 in 12 of USN vessels are manned by Americans.
- Sep 1846, the price of soap for the Navy was reduced by 2d. per lb. from 8d. to 6d. per lb.
- 1847, Naval General Service medal authorized.
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- The Naval Prisons Act of 1847, granted Commanding Officers the power of awarding a Summary Punishment by imprisonment, which could be "in any Place, Ship or Vessel, either afloat or on shore," appointed by the Admiralty for that purpose ; or in the absence of such facilities, in any public prison, which suggests that this may be the first official recognition of cells on board a ship.
- 1849, Good conduct badges introduced.
- 1850, New ration scale introduced. Rum ration halved to 1/8th pint, and the evening issue stopped and grog money introduced as compensation to teetotallers.
- 1852, Pursers and paymasters to receive full salaries: title changed to paymaster.
- 1852 Commission on Manning the Service started taking evidence.
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- Mar 1852. The passing of Mates to the Rank of Lieutenant in the Royal Navy.-The regulations in force for the past two years relative to mates who have passed abroad, providing they should be at liberty to select either the first or second examination-day after being paid off, "have undergone revision." In consequence of questions in trigonometry and algebra being now added to the usual college examination papers, mates passing for the rank of lieutenant are to have the benefit of selecting the third examination day after their arrival in England ; or, in the case of officers having been paid off in a ship, the benefit of a third examination day after the date of their having been so paid-off. It is to be distinctly understood that should an officer neglect to pass on one of these three examination-days, or should he be rejected, he will forfeit all claim to have his seniority dated from the day of his original passing. These regulations are to apply to masters' assistants and second masters.
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- Mar 1852. The telegraphs at the various coast-guard stations on the south coast of England are to be placed in an efficient state, as well as those on the Essex and Norfolk coasts, and those from the South Foreland to Sheerness, by which means communications can be made from any of Her Majesty's vessels cruising in the Channel to any or all of the great naval arsenals. The ships in ordinary in the rivers Thames and Medway are to be so stationed as to convey intelligence to Chatham and Woolwich dockyards, and from the latter places to head-quarters at Whitehall. 20 years have elapsed since these telegraphs were used, and consequently they will in many places have to be replaced by new ones. The last time they were in operation was when Captain, now Admiral, Sir Hugh Pigot, commanded the Talavera guardship in the Downs, which service ceased in 1831.
- 1853 Introduction of the Continuous Service engagement for ratings along with improved rates of pay.
- 1853, the rates of Chief Petty Officer and Leading Seaman introduced.
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- Circular 131 of 7th October, 1853 introduced Summary Punishments by establishing a more uniform system of punishment, and laying down a numbered set of punishments with a maximum duration.
That warrants were to be used for corporal punishment, cells or canvas screen, and deprivation of G.C. badges; and were to be read on the quarter deck.
That punishments, except cells or canvas screen, suspended on Sundays.
Confinement in coal bunkers or other close places prohibited.
Captain may delegate to the officer next in command certain punishments.
Service Certificate awards were to be
- Very Good (V.G.).,
- Good (G.).,
- Fair or passable,
- Indifferent,
- Bad,
which formed the basis of the reforms which came into existence in the next decade.
- 1853, Introduction of Naval Uniform for ratings.
- Admiralty Circular published circa Dec 1853.
Dec 1853. Shortage of First and Second Class Assistant Engineers.
The services of first and second class assistant engineers being required, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have stated that such assistant-engineers as may in other respects be eligible, are to be permitted to present themselves for examination if they belong to ships about to leave England, provided they have completed to within sic months their period of service. They will thus, if they pass, be eligible for promotion when their full time is completed, instead of having to pass abroad, where frequently passing officers cannot be obtained.
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- Mar 1855, no Foreigner in future is to be entered for continuous service on board any of Her Majesty’s ships.
- 1856, Victoria Cross instituted.
- 1856, Executive curl on gold lace introduced for executive officers.
- Aug 1856, the service of invalid pensioners who served in reserve fleets (in ordinary,) during the Crimes War, were discharged from service and long service pensioners, who were paid an additional 3d. per day during the War were to undergo a medical if they wished to continue their duties, but the 3d. a day was discontinued. Those wishing to leave the service could claim their discharge immediately.
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- Nov 1856 - Preventing smuggling. Lieut. T. Hungerford, the District Officer of the Coast Guard, wrote from Castletownsend "as the winter season draws on and it is also appearing that smuggling transactions are taking place upon the coast I have to desire that the utmost vigilance may be observed at the several stations and on board the Bantry".
(6)Irish Coast Guard Order Book 1852-60, National Maritime Museum, London, MS85/106.
With thanks to Aidan Power.
- 1858, Assistant surgeons commissioned.
- 1858, Captains authorized to grant regular leave.
- 24 Aug 1858 The size of cells was regulated by Admiralty,
- 1859, Royal Naval Reserve established.
- 1859, Recruiting organization for ratings established.
- 1859 Second Commission on Manning the Service started taking evidence.
- 1859 Free Part Kit : Improved Victualling Scales : Free Mess Utensils : Free Bedding.
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- Purser's name for the ship's books. A Purser's name was a name given to a foreign rating e.g. Krooman, when Europeans had difficulty either spelling or pronouncing the man's name : examples of names given for Seedy boys entering on the East Coast of Africa include Happy Jack, Dismal Jimmy, Jack Fish, Tom Dollar, and the like. In former days it was quite common for seamen to be given a Purser's name for the ship's books.
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- Paid down. Probably interim payments made during a ship's commission when a payment is made down to a certain date, thus usually leaving a credit balance on the ledger. [I should be grateful for any additional information, with sources, on the phrase "Paid down."
- 1860, First Naval Discipline Act passed. First and second classes for conduct introduced. Last man hanged at yardarm.
- 1860, Monthly payment introduced for officers and ratings.
- 1861 Naval Discipline Act 1860 repealed.
- 1861 passing of the Naval Discipline Act 1861.
- 1861 Q.R. & A.I., included the first mention of a Defaulters' Book, Record of Conduct Book, and Classifications for Conduct : see www.pdavis.nl/QContents.htm
- 1862, Gratuities for widows of men killed on active service established.
- 1863, Coloured bands of cloth introduced to distinguish officers' branches.
- 1864, Abolition of Red, White and Blue Squadrons. The White Ensign used by the Royal Navy.
- 1864, Commissioned rank of chief gunner, boatswain and carpenter established.
- 1867, Navigating Lieutenants replace Masters.
- 1868, Engine Room Artificer's rating established as chief petty officer.
- 1868, Cap ribbons officially recognized.
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- 1 Dec 1868, feed back from the fleet resulted in a revised edition of Summary Punishments being published, which permitted corporal punishment only for mutinous or highly insubordinate conduct, indecent assaults or acts etc., aggravated or repeated cases of theft, and deserting post.
- 1869, An Admiralty committee on victualling reported inconclusively.
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- 6 Jan 1870 : Royal Marines Pay Days : Mr. Childers having approved the reports of the committee appointed to investigate the method of keeping the accounts at the several divisions of Royal Marines, one of the principal recommendations came into effect at the Chatham division on the 1st inst., as an experiment for six months - the payment of the men once a week, instead of three times a week as heretofore, the abolition of the credits on the men's individual ledgers, and the Paymaster being held responsible for all cash transactions. By this method the number of the pay sergeants will be reduced by one-half, and the work in the Paymaster's office sensibly diminished. The credits on these ledgers, amounting to several hundred pounds, were paid over to the men at the end of the year without any prejudicial effect. The new system of payment, it is understood, is most acceptable to the men, and, as all the married men and Marines employed as artificers have heretofore been paid weekly without any hindrance with respect to discipline, there would seem to be no reason why the experiment should not prove a success, and thereby engender habits of frugality. The system will doubtless hereafter be adopted. in the other Divisions and in the Royal Marine Artillery, and may eventually be introduced into the army generally.
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- 18 Dec 1871, the infliction of corporal punishment further restricted, and in 1879 it was practically abolished. the last case that occurred in the Service being in 1882, but was retained in the K.R./Q.R. & A.I. until well into the 20th Century, although noted as being suspended. It is noted in the Naval Review that with the introduction of summary punishments in the 1860s less use was being made of corporal punishments.
- 1872, Cookery School opened at Portsmouth.
- 1873, Greenwich College founded
- 1873, colour eye tests for officers and ratings introduced.
- 1874, Flag officers no longer entitled to select replacement officers abroad when vacancies occur due to death.
- 1876, Vernon (hulk) commissioned at Portsmouth for torpedo and electrical training and experimental work.
- 1877, Half stripe introduced for lieutenants, navigating lieutenants and civil branch equivalents of over eight years' seniority.
- 1886, Ranks of Fleet Paymaster and Staff Paymaster introduced.
- 1890, Rank of Signal Boatswain introduced.
- 1890, Naval barracks established at Devonport.
- 1900, Physical training becomes a specialist branch.
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- 1903. Week-End Leave. In the Channel Fleet the system was to give week-end leave from after dinner on Saturday, one watch each week till 7 a.m. Monday morning, so that in most cases the men had only one night at home, and many spent Sunday travelling, often, if they were not to break their leave being compelled to arrive in the port many hours before a boat from their ship would come in to take them off.
The new arrangement gave week-end leave once a month from Friday after dinner till noon on Monday, thus the men had three nights at home once a month for one railway fare instead of, in most cases, two nights for two railway fares. Naval Review.
- 1904, Ratings' messes granted free issue of knives, forks, basins and plates.
- 1906, Start of ration allowance.
- 1907, improved Canteen and Victualling arrangements per Login Committee.
- 1907, Oilskins, watch coats, seaboots, stokehold boots issued on loan.
- 1907, Corporal punishment suspended completely.
- 1909, Detention introduced as a punishment.
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- 1916-19 - Extra Pay for Mine Clearance
1916 Under an Admiralty Order of September, 1916, sweepers "not manned by active service naval ratings" a reward of £5 paid for the destruction or salvage of an enemy or British moored mine and £1 for a drifting mine. In "special circumstances " £10 per mine might he paid.
From 1919 to receive £10 for German mines destroyed. Officers are to be paid a bonus of £4 a week, petty and chief petty officers £2 10s., and other ratings £2.
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